Edwards makes a case for a Chase: The WYPALL 200 Review

The last two Nationwide races have left a few of us feeling a bit empty, since both races ended with the same winner, and the same Champion. Brad Keselowski is the 2010 Champion. Nothing will change that.

If you had a Chase in the Nationwide series that was exactly the same as the Cup series … Brad Keselowski would still be the point leader. BUT! He would be heading to Homestead with just a 85 point lead, meaning the title would come down to the final race of 2010.

Nascar has already said they do not plan on implementing a Chase in the Nationwide series. Thanks to Carl Edwards, we may have some evidence that a Chase would be a good thing.

While we are still waiting on word of how Nascar will deal with the Cup invasion, they may have another problem to deal with. Only the Cup title is still up for grabs. It would make sense for all three Championships to still be on the line in the final event. It seems like the Chase is working. While it may be working for Jimmie Johnson better than others, it has kept the points far closer then the old point system.

There is a rumor flying around out there that Cup Drivers will only be allowed to run for the Owner’s Championship (the one I clearly do not talk about enough. Sorry) while Nationwide only drivers would run for the Driver’s championship. I’m for this, but there is simply too much chance of a winless Champion. I would rather see cup drivers limited to just ten events, none in the final 6-8 weeks of the season. Clearly, Nascar has it’s work cut out for them.
Results and more after the JUMP!

Fin

Str

Car

Driver

Team

Laps

Pts

Bns

Driver Rating

Winnings

Status

Tms

Laps

1

2

60

Carl Edwards

Copart Ford

200

195

10

150.0

$55,900

Running

3

153

2

4

33

Kevin Harvick

Rheem Solar Water Heaters Chevy

200

170

119.0

$39,025

Running

3

1

20

Joey Logano

GameStop/Afterglow Toyota

200

170

5

121.3

$38,675

Running

1

23

4

12

22

Brad Keselowski

Discount Tire Dodge

200

160

103.9

$27,500

Running

5

14

32

Reed Sorenson

Dollar General Toyota

200

155

104.9

$35,918

Running

6

17

88

Aric Almirola

GT Vodka Chevy

200

155

5

107.1

$30,068

Running

1

8

7

20

16

Colin Braun #

Con-way Ford

200

146

84.4

$30,418

Running

8

3

12

Justin Allgaier

Verizon Wireless Dodge

200

142

109.6

$28,968

Running

9

22

6

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #

Blackwell Angus Beef Ford

200

138

88.7

$27,603

Running

10

8

66

Steve Wallace

5-hour Energy Toyota

200

134

96.0

$28,043

Running

11

16

09

Brian Scott #

Shore Lodge Toyota

200

130

89.1

$29,243

Running

12

25

40

Mike Bliss

Westerman Companies Chevy

200

127

79.0

$26,893

Running

13

7

98

Paul Menard

Richmond/Menards Ford

200

124

94.4

$20,675

Running

14

9

17

Trevor Bayne

Roush Fenway Ford

200

121

84.6

$20,165

Running

15

23

84

Cole Whitt

Red Bull Toyota

200

118

81.3

$20,030

Running

16

5

18

Kyle Busch

NOS Toyota

200

120

5

111.3

$21,670

Running

2

10

17

15

23

Coleman Pressley

R3 Motorsports Chevy

199

112

70.4

$28,478

Running

18

18

15

Michael Annett

Pilot Flying J Coffee Toyota

199

109

71.7

$26,793

Running

19

26

35

Tony Raines

BeAStockCarDriver.com Chevy

199

111

5

65.7

$25,933

Running

1

6

20

38

28

Kenny Wallace

Iron Horse Jeans Chevy

199

103

55.4

$26,673

Running

21

41

10

Ricky Carmichael

Monster Energy Toyota

199

100

63.3

$26,013

Running

22

24

11

James Buescher #

Great Clips Toyota

199

97

79.4

$25,603

Running

23

13

99

Ryan Truex

Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota

198

94

66.1

$25,868

Running

24

19

27

Alex Kennedy

LawMemorial.org/Sacred Power Ford

198

91

50.1

$25,358

Running

25

31

05

David Starr

Super Pawn Chevy

198

88

48.9

$25,748

Running

26

33

81

Michael McDowell

Red Line Oil/Drive Reply Dodge

198

85

53.2

$25,263

Running

27

36

62

Brendan Gaughan

Alliance Parts Toyota

197

82

60.1

$25,228

Running

28

35

87

Joe Nemechek

Gator.com Chevy

197

79

47.7

$25,558

Running

29

39

01

Mike Wallace

Suncore Industries Chevy

197

76

42.5

$25,083

Running

30

30

83

John Borneman III

Nicky Rottens/Borneman Plastering Ford

197

73

41.3

$25,348

Running

31

37

21

Morgan Shepherd

Victory In Jesus Chevy

195

70

40.0

$25,013

Running

32

28

7

Danica Patrick

GoDaddy.com Chevy

193

67

46.5

$24,978

Running

33

11

38

Jason Leffler

Great Clips Toyota

119

64

74.1

$24,943

Engine

34

6

00

Martin Truex Jr.

Travis Pastrana Toyota

115

61

74.5

$18,440

Accident

35

32

79

Tim Andrews

2nd Chance Race Parts Ford

36

58

44.1

$18,405

Transmission

36

43

49

David Green

Jay Robinson Racing Chevy

31

55

32.0

$18,370

Vibration

37

34

90

Danny O’Quinn Jr.

D’Hondt Humphrey Racing Chevy

27

52

40.7

$18,325

Brakes

38

40

70

Mark Green

Iron Horse Jeans Chevy

20

49

40.1

$18,290

Engine

39

10

91

David Gilliland

D’Hondt Humphrey Racing Chevy

20

46

39.9

$18,215

Electrical

40

42

34

Charles Lewandoski

Tri-Star Motorsports Chevy

15

43

32.0

$18,180

Transmission

41

27

26

Brian Keselowski

K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge

3

40

32.9

$18,145

Oil Pressure

42

29

92

Dennis Setzer

K-Automotive Motorsports Dodge

3

37

31.4

$18,095

Vibration

43

21

36

Jeff Green

Tri-Star Motorsports Chevy

2

34

29.8

$18,040

Vibration

It was an impressive debut for Cole Whitt. Whitt is a Red Bull developemental driver, and came home 15th. Whitt will make his first Truck Start next week in the #60. We do not know the future plans for Whitt, but a ride in the Nationwide Series would not be out of the question.

The most entertaining part of the race was an exchange between two young guns. Well, three. Well, many. First was James Buescher getting a little revenge on Danica Patrick. He smacked into the front of the GoDaddy Chevy pinching in the fender. Then young Alex Kennedy rocked her outta the way, then slamed into her side. They keyed into Patrick’s radio and she squeeked out “Is there a target on me?” The crew chief didn’t say anything back. I was surprised by that. It’s the crew chief’s job to calm the driver down when someone gets into them. Patrick drove into the back of Kennedy and knocked him outta the way. I was happy for Patrick, and even happier that she handled it that way. She didn’t spin Kennedy, just went eye for an eye on him. Great move.

After the race, we got Justin Allgaier and Aric Almirola getting into each other. Almirola had used up his tires. When he tried to pass Allgaier, he used the #12 Dodge as a crutch. Justin didn’t appreciate the contact, and after the checkard had flown, got into the side of the #88. Almirola then dented in the side of the #12. The two exchanged words, but no Jeff vs. Jeff shoving. Allgaier reminded us all that both Almirola and Allgaier will be full time Nationwide drivers next season. Who else out there would love to see this take the place of the Keso/Edwards feud? I would.

As promised, here is the fight for the Owner Championship:

Pos

Owner

Car #

Points

Ldr

1

Kyle Busch

18

5,515

0

2

Brad Keselowski

22

5,474

-41

Fortyone points. That’s all that seperates two of the strongest teams out there. Keso made up a lot of ground thanks to Busch’s 16th place finish. Next week we will crown a Owner’s Champion.

Speaking of next week, Next week my friends, is the final event. The Ford 300. Ford Championship Weekend. The Nationwide series heads to Homestead, Miami, Florida. Join us later in the week for the preview of the final event of 2010. Enjoy!

Fan of the Race! Richmond

Contacts

Pages

Welcome

Welcome to one of only twenty-five blogs recognized by NASCAR as part of the NASCAR Citizen Journalists Media Corps! Don't miss out on the discussion: join our community now and let your voice be heard!